Lothar Matthaus: No Arsenal fairytale for Arsenal Wenger… Gunners had to kill Atletico Madrid off when they had the chance
German World Cup legend predicts Arsenal will pay price for not beating ten-man Spaniards at Emirates last week
ARSENAL made the same mistake in the first leg with Atletico that Bayern Munich did against Real Madrid — and we all know how that ended up.
They had so many chances, six, seven or eight big ones, and played most of the match against ten men.
Yet the Gunners ended up conceding a late goal. That should have been impossible but it’s where Arsenal fall short.
Arsene Wenger’s men like to play good football although they don’t know how to kill teams off.
They’re not the killing machine they should be.
And that means every team knows that they have a chance against them.
GUN FIRE
Arsenal are a little like Liverpool in that they are far a better attacking side than a defensive one.
Even without new signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is ineligible, they have players who can hurt any side.
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I have always liked Mesut Ozil and feel Henrikh Mkhitaryan can show at Arsenal the player he was at Borussia Dortmund.
Alexandre Lacazette’s headed goal last week showed what a quality striker he is on his day — and you feel the Gunners should get more goals.
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But sometimes they forget how to score. They certainly don’t score enough in the big games.
And I just don’t think they have enough against top teams in those 50-50 games. Griez lightning Antoine Griezmann showed the difference last week when he netted his late equaliser.
Arsenal had lots of chances and scored just one.
The French superstar had one big chance — and took it. Now Atletico can bring in Diego Costa as well.
Arsenal have been hurt by him so many times before. He gets into their heads and, if he does that again tonight, it will only create more space for Griezmann.
And we saw last week what happens if you give him space in your own half.
BOSSING IT
Wenger has been a great manager — but he does not have the same intensity or mentality as Diego Simeone and that will be critical.
Simeone may be suspended, yet it will not matter. He will send his team out to be aggressive, motivate and push them.
That aggressive approach will be everywhere on the pitch and I feel Arsenal might just be smothered by it.
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VERDICT
Arsenal have been too inconsistent all season. One thing they have is desperation because they have to win the Europa League or this season has been a waste.
But Atletico are so strong at home. It’s harder to beat them at the Wanda Metropolitano than to beat Real at the Bernabeu.
I know everyone wants a fairytale finish for Wenger — but I just don’t see it.
PREDICTION: Atletico 2 Arsenal 0